The 2013 Gordon Conference on Visualization in Science and Education will continue a tradition of bringing together diverse communities of persons engaged in the production, study and application of visualizations to enhance and promote scientific understanding. The over-arching theme for the 2013 conference is The Evolving Role of Visualization in Science and Education. This will be achieved through the exploration of the following seven sub-themes which help define the plenary sessions for the 2013 GRC: Complexity in Visualization We are inundated with information and navigating this burgeoning sea of data poses a significant challenge. How can we best relate variables in a meaningful and intelligible way? What insights can a cognitive psychologist or learning scientist or "bench bio-physicist" share to help explore the contours of this and related questions? This session will also explore the more fundamental notions of complexity and ways in which cognition theory can (should) influence best practice. Visualization in Mobile Environments The emergence of small, powerful and highly portable computing devices offers unique opportunities and challenges to not only how we do science but also how we communicate science. Visualization & Tools: Research Applied In this session the community will examine current applications of visualization tools and modalities to elicit useful knowledge and to effect change in how scientific decisions are made and how scientific knowledge can be used. The evolving role of visualization in the teaching of STEM Concerns over declines in STEM performance by students in many industrialized countries are legion. "Visualization" is often touted as a panacea to "stem" this problem! However, evidence of what works in visualization is elusive. This session will explore the many dimensions of the role of visualization in STEM education. Role of visualization in communicating complex science to the public Science is presented to the public in many ways - from complicated graphs in newspapers and websites to interactive displays at Museums and planetaria. How effectively do these visualizations convey scientific ideas and attitudes? For science to be a vibrant part of modern culture this question must be addressed. Augmented reality and other modes of visualization How have recent technological innovations and how will emerging technologies re-define the scope of "visualization"? This core question will animate this session. Visualization in the (scientific) workplace To say that visualization is critical to the emergence of new knowledge is a vast understatement! From Galileo's first crude telescope to real-time visualization of global circulation patterns in ocean and atmosphere currents, the ability to interact with and "see" data is vital to the doing of science. This session will explore state-of-the-art visualization tools and methods in a number of fields. In addition to the list of sessions described above, a vibrant and engaging week of posters and subsequent discussion will help ensure that the 2013 Gordon Conference on Visualization in Science and Education will be a stimulating and rewarding conference! For more information, please visit the conference chairs’ web site.